Haitians that control the gates in the northern Dajabon-Ouanaminthe border area, and who have kept these gates closed impeding the binational market activities, launched tear gas bombs on the Dominican side to impede informal trade. The Haitians have kept the gates closed and this has resulted in contraband and informal trade to be the new normal on the border, despite protests of Haitian and Dominican merchants.
Listin Diario reported on the videos recorded by merchants that show the moment when members of the Haitian police entered Dominican territory and launched tear gas bombs in the informal market that takes place on the border on the Dominican side between Haitians and Dominicans.
Listin Diario reported that apart from the tear gas bomb thrown, the Haitians in uniform entered Dominican territory specifically on the west side of the perimeter fence where they seized and destroyed merchandise that merchants sold to Haitian buyers to take food to their homes and market in areas of Ouanaminthe.
To avoid an armed confrontation and thus not put the lives of civilians in danger, members of the Dominican Army who were in the area did not stop the action of the angry police officers.
Diario Libre reported the security was again stepped up on the border to impede further similar actions. At the same time, Dominican merchants, who were attacked by the Haitian police, reacted removing Haitians who sell their wares on Capotillo Street in Dajabon, presumably with the consent of the Municipal Council of Dajabón now that the binational marketplace is now operating after the Haitian authorities ban to formal trade.
On several occasions, the Haitian authorities have warned their citizens that they will impose fines of up to 500 thousand gourdes, among other penalties, to those who bring goods from the Dominican Republic to Haiti.
The Haitian authorities are demanding the Dominican Republic remove migratory regulations put into place in September in protest of the construction of an irrigation canal that would divert the waters of a river born in the Dominican Republic and that passes for 2 km through Haiti before continuing on to the Dominican Republic. The Haitians reject the imposition of biometric registry to those crossing the border.
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Listin Diario
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
4 December 2023